Alex Zielinski
@alex_zee
Followers
54K
Following
13K
Media
2K
Statuses
21K
But, why? Portland city govt reporter, Oregon Public Broadcasting Past words: @portlandmercury @sacurrent @wcp Past lives: TX, DC, CA 📬 [email protected]
Portland, OR
Joined June 2009
It doesn't feel like standard practice for a mass shooting to take place and police to refuse to confirm/deny whether the shooter has been arrested more than 24 hours later.
101
2K
16K
It's remarkable to be 100 days into nightly demonstrations on the streets of Portland and see no significant change in how police respond to them. It's like some dystopian version of Groundhog Day.
113
1K
7K
On the eve of Indigenous People’s Day, protesters in Portland brought down statues of both Teddy Roosevelt and Abe Lincoln.
68
793
5K
Double rainbow over Southeast Portland Is almost TOO MUCH for today.
53
560
4K
A critical, comprehensive read for anyone trying to get up to speed on the recent Portland protests:
12
3K
4K
Hi Portland! I see a lot of you are getting interested in how our police bureau works. As someone who’s reported on Portland cops for a few years, I’m THRILLED. To help get you up to speed, I thought I’d share some past stories I’ve written on policing in Portland:.
278
2K
4K
Larnell's father, Darnell Bruce Sr. speaking to Coutier: ."What you did was bigger than us. The ideology you have is bigger than us. This world doesn’t belong to anyone, we all have the right to be here.".
29
718
3K
Here’s the thing: An assault by a member of the public against a building ends in a felony charge. An assault by a police officer against a member of the public ends in a stern talking to. Maybe a promotion.
A police officer was filmed repeatedly striking an individual at a protest. Even the building where I live, along with dozens of other families, was violently attacked. These acts range from stupid, to dangerous, to criminal. The violence must stop.
47
1K
3K
Another reminder that these aren't federal police — this is how Portland officers have handled protests since Day 1.
44
2K
3K
11:30 am in Portland, OR — these dudes are handing out free beers and bumping Woody Guthrie.
31
326
3K
These federal police are pointing firearms at members of the public because some people broke windows, graffitied walls, and threw rocks at them last night.
Please pay attention. Lives are going to be lost in Portland.
72
1K
3K
A note: Right-wing writer @MrAndyNgo is with the PP group the entire time as they plan out their attack. He smiles as they joke about being outnumbered. There's no way he couldn't know the group was planning on instigating violence against people at Cider Riot.
65
630
3K
A federal judge has found the City of Portland/Portland Police Bureau in contempt of court for violating a June 26 temporary restraining order (in the Don't Shoot PDX case) by using pepper spray and impact munitions against protesters.
26
485
3K
Your daily reminder that the Portland Police Bureau was never defunded, and currently has the largest budget in Portland history.
131
545
3K
Dear national news outlets/journalists: If you're flying to cover the Story of Portland, my DMs are open to provide context and background!. There's nuance here, and I'd love to help get you up to speed. Everyone else: See you tonight, I'll be on the ground.
42
505
3K
Thinking about how Portland police respond to a houseless man in a park with a fake gun (Robert Delgado) vs. a man wandering downtown streets threatening people with an assault rifle.
The man with the assault rifle has walked towards police and is now detained at the justice center.
64
763
3K
I don’t have time (or energy or patience) to write about how antifa isn’t responsible for Oregon wildfires. But, antifa isn’t responsible for Oregon wildfires.
79
376
3K
Police lobbyists have recently raised concerns w/ state lawmakers that forcing officers to wear name badges puts them at unfair risk of being doxxed. Just a reminder that journalists get mail like this weekly (and I don’t even wear a name tag):
67
767
3K
Larnell's mother, Natasha Bruce: "I started raising my son same age that he died, 19 years old. Think of what you took from me. You took a son who would give me grandchildren. You took a son that would change my tire. You took a soon that would help me when I’m elderly.".
19
446
2K
One thing I forgot to mention last night that really irked me: A LOT of male protesters who continuously harassed the only women officer with taunts like “is that your big girl voice” and calling her “girly,” “missy,” and other patronizing nicknames. Misogyny! It’s everywhere.
100
297
2K
Hey folks — I'm taking the next several days off. After two months of continuous protest coverage, I'm in need of some airplane mode & nature. This work sticks in your bones. I'll be back 7/29.
386
27
2K
This means anyone arrested today may be charged with a felony.
At 9:00 A.M. this morning, members of @PortlandPolice Rapid Response Team were deputized as Federal Marshals. This will allow federal prosecutors to charge allegations of assault on a federal officer to anyone who attacks Officers-
26
1K
3K
Here's a photo of June Knightly, the woman killed Sunday at Normandale Park, shared by her partner.
50
428
2K
What might be lost in the whirlwind of protest shooting news: . A Portland officer shot and killed a member of the public last night in SW. Little information has been made public, but we'll keep you updated.
16
582
2K
Tuning in from my brief period of unemployment to share this important sign (and adjacent boot-scrubber) outside of Lone Fir Cemetery. Someone deserves a raise.
25
495
2K
I've said this before, I'll say it again: The fact that protesters who aren't press are wearing "press" badges to protect them from indiscriminate police violence should raise more alarm bells about the police than the protesters.
29
686
2K
Hi! Today is my last day at the Mercury. Next week, I'm joining OPB to report on city government. I’ll essentially be covering the same topics, but sometimes you might hear me on the radio(!?). Excited to explore a new medium & work alongside some of Oregon's best journalists.
187
51
2K
PPB has clarified: The bureau sent 6 officers, 1 sergeant, 1 lieutenant, and 3 officers in training to respond to a group of people dumpster diving in the middle of a pandemic and mass power outage yesterday.
62
527
2K
What. Is. Happening.
WATCH - Portland Police officers knock a protester off of his bicycle and arrest him outside of Lownsdale Square Park near the Federal Courthouse downtown #LiveOnK2
77
1K
2K
This is a very on-brand mom activity.
Federal law enforcement has started making threats of using violence and making arrests, but moms are up front and standing strong. #PortlandProtest
30
332
2K
A reminder: Portland protests aren't just videos of garbage can fires and tear gas.
24
695
2K
Woke up to learn Portland Police are now. arresting journalists (after tear gassing them) for. documenting demonstrations against police brutality? Cool great wow.
21
513
2K
This clip, shot right before Patriot Prayer arrived at Cider Riot on May Day, is the clearest evidence I've seen supporting the claim that PP & leader Joey Gibson were intent on instigating a fight that afternoon.
90
578
2K
It’s become increasingly common for Portland police to confiscate bulletproof vests/other protective gear during protests. Ppl (press included) wear these to protect them from police/protester munitions. I don’t understand why they’re taken, let alone considered weapons.
92
688
2K
I just met a couple in their 70s, both wearing goggles. “We’ve been protestsing for fifty years,” says the man. His wife “we didn’t think we should stay home and be comfortable right now.” She says they’ve both been tear gassed before, both been to jail.
17
264
2K
The true reward of filing public records requests is discovering that the Portland Police Bureau spent $19.20 on "protest lacroixs.".
31
249
2K
If "families are fleeing Portland because it's a hellhole," why are the rents still so dang high.
120
100
2K
It’s on fire. The Multnomah county Justice Center is on fire.
72
705
2K
All I'm sure of: Americans legalized a lot of drugs tonight.
23
177
2K
John Malkovich's son was arrested outside the Portland Police Association HQ last night. I don't know what to do with this information, but here it is.
38
188
2K
Don’t Shoot PDX has filed a lawsuit against the City of Portland for its use of tear gas at protests. It’s calling for an immediate restraint order on all tear gas use.
13
412
2K
Also, Hardesty said she was appalled after recently speaking with PPB Chief Lovell and learning that, “he did not believe that media had the right to stand and record and document police activity.".
59
497
1K
Time for another backyard chat with OSP, @OregonGovBrown?.
Tell me again how defund the police is wrong when no one even bats an eye at a policeman in Oregon flashing a white power sign at a Proud Boy that he’s obviously chummy with.
40
519
1K
Whoa. Press release from @UniteOregon & Portland African American Leadership Forum excoriates the city for today's police leadership change: "We will not accept a mere cosmetic change that reformulates policing by another name. We demand the full abolition of police and prisons."
30
530
1K
Mayor Wheeler appeared shocked by federal officers' unprovoked use of tear gas. But this was nothing new for protesters who’ve experienced the same attacks coming from the Portland Police Bureau—an agency Wheeler directly oversees—for the past 55 days.
44
603
1K
I guess no one at @MSNBC googled Joey Gibson before airing this? Cool cool.
MSNBC airs interview with Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson, who talks about one of his supporters who was killed in Portland. Asked if he has any regrets, he knocks the media's coverage of the "Trump cruise.". "I don’t know what else we could have done differently."
65
352
1K
It appears that one officer's recognition that a coconut milkshake looks a little like wet cement convinced PPB to spread this allegation.
97
568
1K
Data crunched and analyzed by local indie researchers finds no significant decrease in crime as number of PPB officers increase:
60
456
1K
This announcement comes 100+ days after members of the public first asked him to do so.
13
130
1K
Flowery guerrilla at installation up in front of Portland City Hall, reads “DEFUND”. (Photo by Zackary Perry)
10
337
1K
I’m calling it. Too many cops throwing tear gas from cars at random groups of people.
59
168
1K
This is wild!.
11
296
1K
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who is also the city’s police commissioner, has not spoke publicly (or responded to press questions) about yesterday’s violence.
33
331
1K
Hey all, I’ll be tweetin’ from the Portland streets tonight. Just arrived at the Justice Center — this the the biggest crowd I’ve seen down here in weeks.
18
168
1K
One person is being arrested on a side street, this is happening as police tell protesters they can’t have shields. (Meanwhile, the Proud Boys have stacks of shields).
79
619
1K
Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell says he "does not know" if any members of the Portland police met with DHS Acting Secretary Wolf yesterday. (?!).
34
322
1K
🫖per SOS: "The Oregon Elections Division notified the Nicholas Kristof campaign this morning that it is rejecting his filing for Governor because he does not meet the constitutional requirements to serve.".
53
185
1K
Portland police included this right-wing meme in a . law enforcement training presentation. It's now under investigation by PPB internal affairs. Story tk.
100
381
1K
Striking split of questions at that press conference. National outlets pushing to get Wheeler to attack Trump, local outlets asking about keeping Portlanders safe.
17
241
1K
This video is included in a new filing from Cider Riot's lawyers in lawsuit against PP, Gibson, et. al. More on that tomorrow.
11
99
1K
"These demonstration cost millions of dollars. [The Proud Boys] are misusing public taxpayer resources. More importantly, I hope they know they are feeding into this nation's current environment of fear." Wheeler continues.
126
373
1K
Would be cool if the NYT actually interviewed “the rest of oregon”. not just suburbs of Portland? This is irresponsible journalism. What’s worse is that NYT actually has local reporters on the ground who could have written an accurate about this “divide”, like @ByMikeBaker.
“Portland is an island in Oregon,” said the mayor of a more conservative town about 30 miles southeast of the city. “We are scared to death that what’s happening in Portland will ever come out to where we live.”
39
237
1K
It’s not much of an exaggeration to say law enforcement’s violence against press tonight was sanctioned by @OregonGovBrown. ☹️.
16
401
1K
Some takeaways from morning press conference with Portland mayor, police chief, DA, and federal officials on weekend mass shooting at Normandale Park: .- No charges have been filed against suspected shooter.- Police believe a piece of evidence has been taken from the scene.
13
197
1K
In response to another police killing of an individual in mental distress in Portland, we're going to hear calls for accountability, oversight, analysis. I think it's important to remember that all of these things are already in place in Portland. A refresher:.
12
380
1K
A group of Portlanders with disabilities are suing the city, county, state, & federal gov for allowing officers responding to protests to flagrantly violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Specifics:
14
298
1K
A 17-year-old boy says, in North Portland, “Black people are being replaced by Black Lives Matter signs.”.
12
298
1K
Oregon will be entering a statewide "freeze" between Nov 18 and Dec 2, during which:. -all restaurants/bars closed, limited to take-out only.-all gyms closed.-retail/grocery/pharmacies limited to 75 ppl indoors.-religious spaces limited to 25 ppl indoors.-mask wearing everywhere.
41
237
1K
Feeling safe living in a city where Real Men have been called to vigilante work:
64
157
1K
A look at how federal officers are treating Portlanders this weekend.
34
687
1K
Workers at New Seasons' SE Division store have voted to unionize 62-15. Story to come.
17
85
1K
A friend of Robert Delgado, the man killed by PPB yesterday, has sent me few more photos of him. Accompanied by the message: He was nice and funny and caring and always trying to make someone laugh."
9
202
1K
A peek at the living quarters in the first of Portland’s six planned city-run mass encampments:
242
109
1K
Portland State University has announced a plan to disarm its campus police in the fall. It's a change that students/faculty/community members have requested for years. More from @BlairStenvick this afternoon.
10
151
994
City of Portland has reached a $250k settlement with Don't Shoot Portland & 5 individuals over police use of tear gas and impact munitions during the 2020 racial justice protests. As part of the settlement, PPB has agreed to "decommission" all flash-bang grenades. Story to come.
23
211
1K
Portland police have shot and killed 39 people since 2003. None of the 65 officers were ultimately disciplined. 56 of them still work as local officers. Those killed were disproportionally Black. (This is why people are still protesting in Portland.).
477
596
964
For the first time in Portland's history, an officer is facing criminal charges for using force against a member of the public during a protest: .
16
263
979
A nugget buried in this piece: . The City Attorney's Office is requesting an additional $210,000 this fall to cover the salary of an additional attorney to help the city fight a "significant" increase in lawsuits related to PPB's response to protests.
35
446
978
So, this isn't accurate. This isn't a federal park, and protesters haven't torn down the fence "every day" (that literally happened one time).
30
304
979